9
When rag doll 9 first comes to life, he finds himself in a post-apocalyptic world where all humans are gone. It is only by chance that he discovers a small community of others like him taking refuge from fearsome machines that roam the earth intent on their extinction. Despite being the newest member of the group, 9 convinces the others that hiding will do them no good. They must take the offensive if they are to survive and they will need to discover why the machines want to destroy them in the first place. The very future of civilization may depend on them.
Alan Bennett at the BBC
Special features include an interview with Alan Bennett (on Disc 4) and introductions to each teleplay by Alan Bennett.
Annie
The story of the comic strip character Little Orphan Annie, who is adopted by billionaire Daddy Warbucks.
Beautiful Kate
Writer Ned Kendall is asked to return to the family home by his sister Sally to farewell his dying father. While there, Ned starts having childhood memories that awaken long-buried secrets from the family's past.
Bride flight
Based on a true story, Bride Flight follows the story of three young Dutch women and a young man who settled in New Zealand in 1950s. They arrived on a KLM flight that won the 1953 Air Race from London to Christchurch. The film centres on the women: Ada, Marjorie and Esther, who reunite 50 years after the flight landed.
Bright star
Set in London, 1818, Bright Star is the tender story of the first love between John Keats, the romantic English poet and the girl next door, the stylish, headstrong Fanny Brawne. Inspired by the actual love letters between the couple and Keats' sublime poetry, Bright Star reveals one of the world's great, untold love stories.
Carriers
Determined to elude the deadly viral pandemic virus, Danny, his brother Brian, his girlfriend Bobby and Danny's school friend Kate speed across the Southwestern U.S. to reach a place of possible safety. Over the course of four days, the group is faced with moral decisions that no human should ever be forced to face. They discover that their greatest enemy is not the microbe attacking humanity, but the darkness within themselves. Now the four will have to outrun the end of the world, as well as each other.
Children of Fire Mountain
A small town set in 1900 is the backdrop for this award winning 13 part children's drama series about a group of children living in Wainamu, a thermal region in the centre of New Zealand. The story portrays the conflict between the world of the Maori and the white settlers when Sir Charles Pemberton arrives from the United Kingdom on advice from his doctor, and has an idea to build a health spa on Maori land. A friendship grows between local lad Tom (the son of the hotel owner where Sir Charles stays) and Sarah Jane (Sir Charles granddaughter). Meanwhile a local villain is brought to justice, the Maoris foretell a catastrophe and a volcano erupts, showing the danger of interfering with Maori land.
Departures
Daigo Kobayashi, a devoted cellist in an orchestra that has just been dissolved, is left suddenly without a job. Daigo decides to move back to his old hometown with his wife, Mika to look for work and start over. He answers a classified ad entitled Departures thinking it is an advertisement for a travel agency, only to discover that the job is actually for a Nokanshi or encoffineer, a funeral professional who prepares deceased bodies for burial and entry into the next life. While his wife and others despise the job, Daigo takes a certain pride in his work and begins to perfect the art of Nokanshi, acting as a gentle gatekeeper between life and death, between the departed and the family of the departed.
Dorian Gray
Young Dorian Gray arrives fresh on the London social scene and is taken under the wing of corrupt, dev[i]lish Lord Henry Wotton who introduces him to the seedy pleasures of London life. Desperate to protect the youth and beauty captured in his portrait, Dorian swears he would give anything to stay as he is ... even his soul. Slipping deeper and deeper into a world of sin, sex and celebrity, his deeds grow ever more evil in an attempt to hide his secret.
Eating art
Before photography, only paintings reveal what and how we used to eat. Uncovering the history and stories behind food on canvas, Eating Art bridges the world of the visual and culinary arts, travelling across Europe and North America on the trail of history's most prolific food paintings and artists. Celebrated restaurateur and art collector Oliver Peyton explores the symbolism and significance of foods that artists chose to depict visits artists' homes where the ingredients were produced and discovers how food was cooked at the time. Then in the kitchens of some of the best restaurants on the planet, the world's greatest chefs bring the gastronomic artworks to life, taking inspiration from the paintings to create their own masterpiece on a plate.
Grow your own drugs. Series 1
Unleash the power of plants and soothe the symptoms of everyday ailments the natural way. Whether you're struggling with insomnia, the kids have eczema, or your partner is feeling under the weather, this series could have the answer. With easy recipes ethnobotanist James Wong shows how to make simple creams, salves, teas and much, much more from the stuff growing in your window box, the local garden centre or in the hedgerows. Using the flowers, fruit, vegetables, roots, trees and herbs that are all around us James provides preparations to help relieve a whole range of common conditions, including acne, anxiety, cold sores and general aches and pains plus great ideas for beauty fixes such as bath bombs and shampoos.
How the earth was made. The complete season one
Spectacular location shooting from around the world, evidence from geologists in the field, and clear, dramatic graphics combine in this stunning 13-part series to show how the immensely powerful, and at times violent, forces of geology have shaped our planet. From the Great Lakes to Iceland, the San Andreas Fault to Krakatoa, How the Earth Was Made travels the globe to reveal the geological processes that have shaped some of the most well-known locations and geological phenomena in the world. With rocks as their clues and volcanoes, ice sheets and colliding continents as their suspects, scientists launch a forensic investigation that will help viewers visualize how the earth has evolved and formed over millions of years.
Hunting the lost symbol
A gripping documentary investigating the clues and revelations presented in Dan Brown's best-selling novel The lost symbol.
Invictus
He was imprisoned 27 years for his heroic fight against apartheid. So what does Nelson Mandela do after he is elected president of South Africa? He rejects revenge, forgives his oppressors and finds hope of national unity in an unlikely place: the rugby field. Clint Eastwood powerfully directs an uplifting film about a team and a people inspired to greatness. Morgan Freeman portrays Mandela, who asks the national rugby team captain (Matt Damon) and his underdog squad to do the impossible and win the World Cup.
It might get loud
Documents the day three generations of electric guitar players met to share their own stories on how they developed their own unique sound and playing style. Viewers will hear fresh music from each artist and witness intimate moments as they discuss what influences how they write and play. It also looks back at their individual lives and careers.
It's complicated
A hilarious look at marriage, divorce and everything in between. With a thriving Santa Barbara bakeshop, a new romance heating up, and her divorce finally behind her, Jane Adler has her life all figured out, until she finds herself trapped between the perfect new beau and her philandering ex-husband who's determined to win her back. When opposites attract all over again, will love be sweeter the second time around? It's...complicated!
James May's toy stories
James May takes iconic toys of yesteryear and by spectacularly supersizing them, attempts to make them relevant in today's technologically obsessed world. He builds a full size Lego house, wins a major award at the Chelsea Flower Show for his Plasticine garden, and breaks two world records.
Longing for New Zealand
Paige, a successful businesswoman, travels to New Zealand to sell off some land she has inherited from her mother. This should be a mere matter of days! Steven Armstrong, a businessman planning to turn the piece of land into a holiday resort, soon makes her a good offer. However, Paige also meets Adam Leary who is trying to preserve the land for the Maori. Paige's heart soon makes up her mind. She falls for the intriguing, affectionate man, but before making a decision, Paige needs to discover her own connection to the country.
On the buses. Series 5
Internationally-acclaimed comedy starring Reg Varney as bus driver Stan Butler. Life at home has its problems for Stan, but so does work at the bus depot.
Percy Jackson & the lightning thief
Percy Jackson is no ordinary teenager, he's the son of Poseidon and is accused of stealing Zeus' lightning bolt, the most powerful weapon ever created! With storm clouds brewing, Percy embarks on an incredible cross-country journey to prove his innocence, recover the bolt, and prevent a war among the gods that could destroy our world!
Planet 51
American astronaut Captain Charles T. Baker thinks he is the first person to set foot on Planet 51. Little does he know the planet is inhabited by little green people who live in a cheerful innocent world. The only fear they have is that their planet will be overtaken by alien invaders from planet Earth. Now, before he becomes part of the Planet 51 Alien Invaders Space Museum, Captain Baker, with the help of his new friend, Lem, must figure out a way to escape and return back to Earth.
Silent witness. Series one
Forensic pathologist Dr. Sam Ryan, has an all-embracing, passionate notion of justice. Her tenacity sometimes leads her to conduct her own enquiries outside the laboratory, uncovering new evidence that dramatically alters the course of police investigations.
Tattoo wars
The tattoo world has never seen a competition like this before. Each episode features two of the world's most legendary tattoo artists laying it all on the line and going head to head in an intense four hour ink-off . Stripped of comforts found in a shop, the artists duel it out at an internationally rated tattoo convention. But with all ink guns blazing, top prize honors fall to the mercy of the show attendees as they have the final say on whose creative custom deserves the ultimate tattooing trophy.
The American future
Simon Schama looks to the American past to explain the American present and future : the hopes, and agonies of a great national crisis in the tumultuous year of a Presidential election.
The invention of lying
Mark is a desperate unemployed writer who lives in a world where everyone unfailingly tells the truth. People don't even know what fiction is. Every thought, no matter how humiliating or harsh, tumbles out unvarnished. Then one day, Mark becomes so desperate he concocts a lie. In a world where everyone is unfailingly honest, a lie is believed with total and absolute gullibility. Mark can get anything he wants. The one thing he truly wants is the love of a girl named Anna who happens to be the one person he can't bring himself to lie to.
The twilight saga. New moon
Bella is still very much in love with Edward. The rest of the vampire coven who call themselves the Cullens, especially Alice, decide to throw Bella a private party for her eighteenth birthday. Things go wrong when Bella cuts her finger and thirst overcomes the vampires. As a result of the danger Bella was put through, the Cullen family decide to leave Forks, Washington. Bella becomes so depressed that she exempts herself from all social activities. But, she realizes she can coexist with childhood friend, Jacob. As usual for Bella, things aren't what they seem. Something is happening to Jacob that he can't explain to Bella, and their friendship starts to deteriorate. But when Alice returns to tell her that Edward thinks she is dead, Bella must go on a journey to save Edward from wanting to die himself.
Whaledreamers
A look at the connection between whales and the cultures and ancient civilizations around the globe that have incorporated this sea creature into their story of creation and existence. Narrated by Julian Lennon and Jack Thompson.